Rules of Civility - Amor Towles

Rules of Civility (2011) by Amor Towles is a debut novel set in New York City in the year 1938, offering a detailed exploration of the social and personal dynamics of the period. The story follows Katey Kontent, a witty and ambitious young woman who navigates the complex world of New York’s upper society, unraveling the shifting relationships, ambitions, and moral choices that shape her life.

The novel opens with Katey reflecting on her experiences, beginning in the late 1930s, when she and her friend Eve are both working as secretaries in a Manhattan law office. Their lives take a sudden turn one night when, after a chance encounter at a jazz bar, they meet Tinker Grey, a charming and wealthy banker. Tinker’s presence introduces both women to a world of privilege, luxury, and social intrigue, but also tests their personal values and friendship.

Over the course of the novel, Katey becomes entangled with Tinker in a way that influences her career and personal life, but the story also delves into the complexities of love, friendship, betrayal, and ambition. The narrative follows Katey as she moves through the social strata of New York, encountering a diverse range of characters—each with their own desires, secrets, and personal battles.

One of the core themes of Rules of Civility is the tension between social ambition and personal integrity. The novel explores how individuals navigate their own ambitions, with Katey serving as a sharp observer of the social rules and manners that govern relationships in the city. Her story reflects the tension between desire for success and the personal costs of that pursuit.

Towles's writing is elegant, with sharp observations about class, culture, and the nuances of human interaction, and the novel features a narrative style that is both nostalgic and modern, filled with wit, poignancy, and rich character development. Set against the backdrop of a pre-World War II New York, Rules of Civility also touches upon the larger historical forces at play during a time of economic instability and impending global conflict.